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OSBORNE MCDANIEL, (3F-NEW YORK, Y.

Leners Patent No.. 78,110, and May 19, 186s,

IMROVED FRUIT-BASKET.

T0 ALLWHOM IT MAY GONCERN:- n 1 B e it known that I, OSBORNE McDAn'InL, of New York, in the county and-State of New York, have invented a new and improved Fruit-Basket; and Ido hereby declare that the 'following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, `forming part of this specification, of which- 4 Figure 1 represents a pattern or plan ormyfruitbasket. 1

Figure 2 represents a view' of 4the basketwpartially made, with the two middle iiaps' turned up, to form the sides. l u ,l l

Figure 3 represents avicw of the baskct,'with the two main or side flaps turned up, forming the two other sides.

Figures 4 and 5 represent basket complete.

Similar letters indicate correspondingiparts. Q This invention relates to an improvement in the lmanufacture of baskets, and consists in a new mode of constructing and forming a box or basket with wood shavings, scales, or veneers, especially adapted to the purpose of transporting berries and small fruits to market. The object of this improvement is ebonomyrin construction, to supply the demand forV large numbers of berry-baskets at the cheapest possible price. Wood scales or veneers cut around a log are the cheapest material that,can be used for this purpose, and have, I am aware, been employed for making berry-baskets, but my improved method of construction takes less material, as' the pattern cuts without wast-e, and the basket or box is very simple and easily made. It is formed of one single piece of veneer, or other suitable material; the pattern is cutout by a die in such manner that the sides or walls ofthe basket are formed, in part, by bendingor turning up two opposite middle iiaps, while the other two sides or walls are formed by bending or turning up two other main outsidev iaps, and two corner sub-ilaps are then h other over the two first bent middle aps, to be fastened by Vvmetal tacks, or glue, or otherwise, and thus form the basket or box, with bottom and sides complete, out of one Ythe ilaps A A, by an eighth or quarter o single piece.

For bending the veneer without cracking or breaking, the wood is steamed, or may be cut on one side in the line ofthe bend, as usual.

The basket is made rectangular in plan, the sides being either inclinedor perpendicular to the bottom, and

the square form, with inclined sidcs is preferred.

The pattern Ais shown in lig. 1 lio-r a square plan and inclined sides, in which A A represent the two middle flaps that are to be bent or turned up in thedines et b to form two sides or walls of a basket, as clearly seenin fig. 2. B B are two main outside flaps that are bent or turned up in the lines a a, Z1, `to form the two other aides of the basket, which lines run with the grain of the wood properly, and as seen clearly in iig. 3. At the corners or ends ofthe main iin/ps B B are sub-aps marked 1 l, 2 2, which are bent around in the lines a c, Z1 c,

to lie dat against the sides er walls A A, and moet or lap upon each other either in the inner oroutside, as shown clearly in ig. 4. The sub-flaps can be fastcncd'with tacks or glued upon the sides A A. Y 1

At the intersections of the lines ad, 6,11, in the corners of the bottom, C, the ends of the cuts a 11, a d are enlarged, as shown in gs 1 and 2, more or less,'in order to allow the'ilaps B B to bend on a curve with. the grain of the wood, for the purpose oi preventing the wood from splittingwhen bent, and cracking when it shrinks.

And'in order to make the edges of the basket or box even, it is necessary to provide for shrinkage of the wood, when bent green or wot, by making the sides or iiaps B B wider in the plan or pattern, when cut out, than f an inch, more or less, according to the nature of the wood or the size ofthe box or basket, as indicated by the dotted lines c c, figs. 1 and 2.

The box' or basket is made on a form, or otherwise, to bend the aps,'and theredges are' then brought evenV all around; those of B B being in line with those of A A., to let the excess oi' wood be taken up in the curve of the tiaps B B, which thus are bent freely without splitting, as shown in vfigs. 4 and 5,'while the shrinkageof the wood in drying is thus also fully provided for, so that it shall not crack.

My improved veneer berry-basket or boxradmits of various modications in minor details of construction, but the essential feature of my invention eonsists in cutting:r away the bottom corners oilv thev Hnps for forming the sides, and thus separating the side-flaps B B from the endaps A A, in such manner that the side-flaps can bend with the grain freely upon a full curve, with an excess of wood, when green or wet, to allow for shrinkage in drying, without cracking or splitting. l

The subject of my invention is, therefore, the application of the principle of bending the side-aps with the grain ofthe wood in such manner that the shrinkageis provided for, whereby the wood shall reninin sound when dry or seasoned. This e`ect is produeed by enlarging or cutting away the space between the end and sideflups A and B B, securing thereby perfeetfreedom ofthe side-aps in bending:r with the grain, whereas if this provision is not made in the manufactnre of thebex or basket made. of wood lyeneers, and the side-aps are bent Vwith the grain short or rigidly, they will crack or split in drying, and thus render the box worthless.-4

Forthe purpose of my invention, the sub-{iaps 1 1 and 2 2 may be cut away, to separate them as much and widely as desired from the end-aps A A, and they may be eut broad or narrow, or be entirely eut oil` from the main side-aps B B, in which case the ilaps or sides ofthe box or basket can be fastened by means of' strips nailed around the top. v

Ventilation is necessary for berries, and I provide foxit by perforatng the sides or bottoni of the basket, the holes or slits being made, when the pattern is`cut, by a die. To stiffen the basket, it may be banded around the edge with wood or metal.

Having described my invention, I claim, and desire to ysecure by Letters Patent- `1. The improved fruit-basket or box mode of onopieceof veneer, having the aps cut out at the corners,

substantially as described, and bent in a. curve with the grain of the wood, s'o'as to'p'revent splitting in bending, and to provide for shrinkage, as'hereinset forth. i

2, In afruit-box made of a single piece of veneer, as described, I claim bending two sides with the grain of the wood, when green or wet, in such manner that there sha-l1 be an excess of' wood in :the curve, to provide for the shrinkage of theiwoodin drying or seasoning. t

O. McDANIEL.

Witnesses:

Lo. WATSON, JULIUs R. PoMnRoY; 

